Can openers



D. M. BAUER Jufiy 5, 1955 CAN OPENERS Filed Nov. 12, 1955 INVENTOR fiarzd AK 19 uez' BY 2 Q E3 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent CAN OPENERS David M. Bauer, Norristown, Pa.

Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,515 Claims. (Cl. -61) This invention relates to can openers.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a can opener having dual cutter blades one of which forms a safety edge opening for pouring the contents from the container and the other of which pierces a safety edge opening for an air vent.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can opener of the character aforesaid having cutter blades which provide a clean cut edge and which turn or bend the material of the can toward the inside of the can so that the edge portions which are exposed are free from likelihood of injury to the user when the ner to provide edges which will not cause any injury to the user and with which no fragments are loosened so as to fall into the can and with which the can opener can be removed without difiiculty and Without introducing any hazards to the user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pouring opening of spout form and in which the material punched inwardly in the can a safe edge free from likelihood of injury to the user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can opener which has a unitary cutter blade of relatively hard material which is secured to a lever of lighter material and which permits the easy exertion of the pressure required for can puncture and spout formation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can opener which is particularly suited for use with the fourteen and one-half ounce cans commonly used for evaporated milk although it is not limited to such use.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention v will be more readily understood from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one form of can opener in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the can opener shown in Fig. 1 and in the initial penetrating position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the tool in a further penetrating position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the puncturing of the can and the spout formed thereon;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but showing another form of can engaging structure; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of a structure shown in Fig. 6.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the can opener of the present invention includes a manually operable lever 10, preferably made as a sheet metal stamping. The lever 10 has an elongated relatively flat central portion 11 with side edges 12 to provide a C-shaped transverse cross section resistant to bending. The outer or free end of the lever 10 is preferably rounded as at 13 and the marginal edges flared as at 14 to provide for an effective and comfortable grip. The lever 10 at the other or inner end is provided with alined short struck-in sleeves 14 for the reception of a pivot pin 15 which is preferably in the form of a longitudinally split tube of hardened spring steel movable with respect to the sleeves 14.

A cutter 20 is provided preferably of one piece and of hardened steel and has a central portion 21 which is secured to the flat portion 11 of the lever 10 by a rivet 22 extending therethrough and be a struck-down portion 23 which engages in an opening 24 in the cutter 20. The cutter 20 is preferably shaped to extend around and partially encompass the pin 15, with a downwardly projecting portion 25 formed and shaped in a manner to be explained. The cutter blade portion 25 is at a slight forward inclination, away from the free end of the lever 10, from the perpendicular to the plane of the central portion 21, is preferably triangular in shape between cutter edge faces 26 and 27, has a relatively flat tip 28 and thereabove has a central arcuate section 29 and side flat sections 30.

The cutter 20, at the opposite end thereof, is provided with a downwardly projecting tapered portion 31, at a slight inclination towards the pin15 from the 'perpendicular to the plane of the central portion 21 and has a substantially triangular tip 32 'rearwardlyinclined.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, '3 and 4 in order to engage the can, a can-gripping element 35 is provided substantially U-shaped in plan with acentral section 36 and a pair of arm portions 37 extending there'- from with inclined lower edges 38 for engagement with the top surface of the can. The pin 15 extends through and is in relatively tight engagement in openings 59 in the can-gripping element 35 to provide a pivotal connection for the lever 10 which is interiorly disposed with re-. spect to arm portions 37. The can-gripping element 35, below the arm portions 37, is provided with a pair of downwardly extending inwardly disposed legs 39 having can engaging abutment surfaces 40 and at the junction between the lower edges 38 of the arm portions 37 and the upper extremities of the legs 39, an arcuate cut-out portion 41 is provided on each side to extend around the turned down top rim of the can. The pointed ends 42 at the upper extremities of the surfaces 40 engage under the peripherally disposed lower margin of the turned down top rim of the can.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, a different can engaging structure is illustrated which includes a plate 43 formed in substantially V-shape with parallel side rim portions 44 through the upper ends of which the pin 15 extends. The rim portions 44 have can engaging abutment surfaces 45. At the lower end of the plate 43, a bail 46 is provided having out-turned ends 47 pivotally engaged in openings 48 in the plate 43 and with the opposite end 49 tip-turned, for engagement with the base of the can thereof and upwardly with respect to the base of the can.

' The mode of use will now be pointed out.

The can gripping element 35 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 3 ispositioned so that the pointed ends 42 engage under the lower margin of the turned down top rim of the can, the surfaces 4% engage the vertical side wall of the can and the lower edges 38 of the arm portions 37 engage the top Wall of the can. The lever may thenbe moved downwardly about the axis provided by the pin as hereinafter explained.

If the other form of can gripping structure, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is employed, the can is placed with its bottom wall on the bail 46, with the turned up end 49 engaging the lower part of the vertical wall of the can and with the abutment surfaces 45 in engagement with the vertical can wall. The lever it) may then be moved downwardly about the axis provided by the pin 15.

Upon downward movement of the free end of the lever 10 by manual urging, the tip 28 first penetrates the top wall with a cutting action on the metal which is forced downwardly and outwardly towards the interior face of the vertical wall of the can. Upon furtherdownward movement the edge faces 26 and 27 continue the cutting action until the central arcuate section 29 comes into action to force the tongue of metal cut by the edge faces 26 and 27 against the inner face of the vertical wall of the can and then force that tongue and the adjacent portion of the vertical wall of the can outwardly to provide a spout (see Fig. 3).

At substantially the same time as the arcuate section 29 is coming into action, the tip 23 penetrates the top Wall of the can to provide a vent opening spaced from the spout or pouring opening.

The edges of the cuts made in the top wall of the can by the cutter blade portions and 31 are slightly inturned so that no sharp edges are available to cut or scratch the user.

The tongue of metal interiorly disposed in the can by the action of the cutter blade portion 25 is forced into close engagement with the can wall so that a free flow of the contents, from the interior of the can, and directed by the spout, may be readily effected as desired.

The cutting action of the cutter blade portions 25 and 31 is such that no metal fragments are available to tall into the interior of the can.

Upon the completion of the cutting action the can opener may be readily removed from the can, this being facilitated by the shape of the cutterblade portions 25 and 31.

I claim:

1. A can opener comprising a can engaging member having spaced downwardly extending abutments for engagernent with the side wall of the can, a lever having a flat central portion and downwardly extending side flanges, said lever being pivotally connected to said can engaging member by a horizontally disposed pivot pin extending through said side flanges, a one-piece cutter member having a forwardly disposed cutter with upwardly diverging cutter edges extending upwardly from the terminal end and with an intermediate offset portion between said edges for forcing the rim of the can outwardly to provide a spout, a flat central section, and a rearwardly disposed can vent puncturing cutter, said cutter member having a portion between said cutter and said central section extending around said pin, and fastening means connecting said central portion and said central section.

2. A can opener as defined in claim 1 in which the pin is a longitudinally split hollow cylinder.

3. A can opener as defined in claim 1 in which the can engaging member has an arcuate cut out portion with upstanding pointed ends for engagement beneath the rim of the can.

4. A can opener as defined in claim 1 in which the can engaging member has portions for engagement with the base of the can.

5. A can opener comprising a can engaging member having spaced downwardly extending abutments for engagement with the side wall of the can, a lever having a flat central portion and downwardly extending side flanges, said lever being pivotally connected to said can engaging member by a horizontally disposed pivot pin extending through said side flanges, 'a one-piece cutter member having a forwardly disposed cutter with upwardly diverging cutter edges extending upwardly from the terminal end thereof for cutting a substantially triangular tongue in the top Wall of the can and an intermediate arcuate portion between said edges for forming the rim of the can and said tongue outwardly to provide a spout, a fiat central section, and a rearwardly disposed can vent puncturing cutter, said cutter member having a portion between said cutter and said central section extending around said pin, and fastening means connecting said central portion and said central section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,642 Geer July 12, 1932 2,059,367 Kittle Nov. 3, 1936 2,374,783 Schillo May 1, 1945 2,459,560 Williamson Jan. 18, 1949 

